Category Reports - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Low & no: The twist to modern drinking

Published: 09 September, 2024

Ten years on from the founding of both Club Soda and Seedlip, Jo Gilbert takes the temperature of the game-changing low & no category.

On-trade: Roadmap for London hospitality

Published: 02 September, 2024

A recent ‘state of play’ forum with the London mayor’s office opened the floor to the hospitality sector, giving business owners the opportunity to voice their best and worst-case scenarios when it comes to city-wide reform. Jo Gilbert reports.

Indies: The generation game

Published: 30 August, 2024

With a generational fall-off hitting the trade, Andrew Catchpole looks at what steps indie merchants are taking to pull in younger punters.

Succession: Passing the baton

Published: 20 August, 2024

Andrew Catchpole catches up with families managing a transition between first and second generations.

Design & Packaging: All change on alt

Published: 16 August, 2024

With eco-concerns and economic pressures pointing the way to alternative packaging, we look at which formats are making the most headway. Jo Gilbert reports.

Indies: Buying independence

Published: 02 August, 2024

James Lawrence looks to the evolving role of indie buying groups in response to recent trends.

UK spirits decline, premium segments resilient

Published: 23 July, 2024

James Lawrence looks at the trends shaping and driving premium sales

France Report: The Champagne bubble

Published: 26 June, 2024

David Kermode charts a bumpy ride for France’s favourite fizz

Sustainability Report: Back to basics

Published: 03 June, 2024

With the number of schemes related to sustainable production many and varied, are we confusing consumers? James Lawrence reports.

Indies: What ‘value’ truly means

Published: 01 May, 2024

Jo Gilbert canvassed independent traders to find out how they are looking to stay relevant and competitive during this era of expensive living.

Round Table: Fermenting Furmint

Published: 22 April, 2024

Hungary’s Furmint has been making waves for both the quality and individuality of the wines, with this spring’s Furmint & Friends tasting at London’s Painters’ Hall featuring the most comprehensive spotlight yet on this grape. Harpers partnered with Wines of Hungary UK to convene a round table to analyse the positioning and potential of this exciting volcanic soil-grown variety, with regional expert Caroline Gilby MW giving an introductory overview. Panellists were also offered a taster of some exemplary styles to frame their discussion.

Tonic and mixers: Adapting to thrive

Published: 18 April, 2024

The premium mixers market is showing resilience in the face of the cost of living crisis, finds Nigel Huddleston.

Trouble for gin

Published: 16 April, 2024

As cost pressures rise and gin distillery closures begin to rack up, Henry Jeffreys takes the temperature of this major category.

Rum: A slow sipping spirit?

Published: 01 April, 2024

With rum pushing a premium image, Andrew Catchpole asks how fast and how far it can go.

Taste Off: Volcanic Wines

Published: 27 March, 2024

Andrew Catchpole gathered together a panel to taste and debate the merits of this fashionable but rather niche category.

Making the most of rosé

Published: 25 March, 2024

With premium rosé in the ascendancy, James Lawrence asks why apathy rules regarding its listings.

Bulk wine in choppy seas

Published: 22 March, 2024

Jo Gilbert looks at how bulk shippers are trying to calm the storm of global wine supply.

Cork & Closures: Back to cork

Published: 01 March, 2024

As Broadland Drinks re-installs its corking line after a 15-year absence, Jo Gilbert looks at the future for cork as a technically sound, carbon negative option.